Moments ago Interfax reported that two Russian anti-submarine warships have appeared off the coast of Ukraine's Crimea region, violating an agreement on Moscow's lease of a naval base, according to a Ukrainian military source as saying. Then again what else would a Ukrainian military source say. The source added that the two vessels, part of Russia's Baltic Fleet, had been sighted in a bay at Sevastopol, where Moscow's Black Sea Fleet has a base.

So imagine two extra anti-sub ships off Sevastopol in the map below which until this latest update from Contemporary Issues and Geography, was keeping an accurate running update of all the most recent developments in the staggered Russian invasion of the Ukraine.

In a stunning 24 hours, it now appears that Russia and the Ukraine are one formal announcement away from a state of war. From moments ago, as reported by Bloomberg:

UKRAINE ACTING PRESIDENT PUTS ALL FORCES ON FULL COMBAT ALERT

"And this, as reported by the NYT, virtually assures the escalation to a hot war, as some provocation, somewhere will certainly take place: "a Ukrainian military official in Crimea said Ukrainian soldiers had been told to open fire if they came under attack by Russia troops or others."

"All the dominoes are tumbling now. Moments after the Russian upper house of parliament approved the decision to use Russian troops in the Ukraine as expected, Ukraine's acting president called an emergency meeting of security chiefs according to his spokeswoman. Oleksander Turchinov summoned his Security Council after Russian President Vladimir Putin sought parliamentary approval to deploy Russian forces in the Ukrainian region of Crimea. At this point the biggest and perhaps final wildcard is whether NATO does or does not get involved. If it does, and if Russia does not back off - which it has clearly telegraphed it won't - futures may be looking at a limit down open on Sunday."

"Even as Russia has officially deployed its military to the Ukraine, its unofficial involvement in The Crimean was well known for days. A much more notable development would be if protesters in the pro-Russian eastern part of the country were to seize control of the second largest city in the Ukraine, Kharkiv, located just miles from the Russian border as this would quickly give Russia a foothold into the east of the nation with the tactical escalation abilities such a takeover would entail. Which is why the following clip of pro-Russian protesters storming the city administration in Kharkiv is of importance: should Ukraine lose control of the city, or is forced to use troops against the people, it would be just the pretext Russia needs to "defend" citizens in this part of the country, the same argument it used for military intervention in the Crimean."

"Curious how Ukraine, which with its population of 44 million and size of 603,628 square km makes it the largest single country entirely in Europe, stacks up against Russia? The following infographic should answer some questions regarding the (im)balance of power."

"While various organizations are scrambling to meet on short notice, or not so short if one is a European finance minister, the diplomatic fallout has begun with the summoning of the Russian Ambassador in Great Britain to the foreign office."

It all depends on whether the new regime in Kiev decides to open fire on anti-regime protesters in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east and south - which would give Moscow its long sought after pretext to intervene.

This is like 1914, it can take the smallest spark to set off a war no one wants.

"Current US foreign policy in a nutshell: Barack Obama tells Vladimir Putin "there will be costs" if Russia invades Ukraine. What does Putin do? He invades Ukraine. Only this time it's official: AP reports that the Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked parliament for permission to use the country's military in Ukraine. Putin says the move is needed to protect ethnic Russians and the personnel of a Russian military base in Ukraine's strategic region of Crimea. RIA further adds, the military use is virtually assured as it was leaders of Russias upper and lower houses of parliament who first called Saturday on President Vladimir Putin to stabilize the situation in Crimea and protect Russian citizens. The leader of Federation Council, Russias upper house, said the use of military force in the former Soviet nation could be justified after the opposition swept into power in Kiev last weekend."

Exactly. But one cannot exclude the possibility some of the protestors in Kharkov and other cities are in fact Russian agents provocateurs sent in to destabilize the situation.

Kiev cannot afford a bloodbath which would discredit the new regime. It needs to rollback anti-Russian measures and initiate a national dialogue - or risk losing the country. Much is at stake in how this is handled.

This situation is really confusing and of course we are being bombarded by the press..but there reports from the ground are saying that the current community organizers operating in Kiev are not Ukrainians, but Chenheb insurgents that have started murdering the Ukrainians that took down the statues of Lenin and Stalin. They are saying they asked for help to protect the airport to stop the influx of insurgents. I certainly question the info we receive from our protectionist media. They will certainly be waving the NATO flag and we know who the asshat is that controls it.

If the opposition had kept up the pressure against Yanukovich without the continuous occupation of the main square in Kiev, which was bound to act as a flashpoint for violent forces on both sides, they would have been able to kick him out in the upcoming elections and then make a decision vis-à-vis the EU. The situation would have been very much different then!

27
posted on 03/01/2014 2:00:06 PM PST
by ScaniaBoy
(Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)

This situation is really confusing and of course we are being bombarded by the press..but there reports from the ground are saying that the current community organizers operating in Kiev are not Ukrainians

Remember the little lady from the State Dept. who was intercepted sayin' 'F' the EU... This has Soros and NGO fingerprints all over it, IMO...

33
posted on 03/01/2014 2:07:25 PM PST
by Errant
(Surround yourself with intelligent and industrious people who help and support each other.)

1. For the first time I hear that the Protests in Kiev have been fueled by both the EU and the US ?

2. They seem to be attempting to paint the narrative that Russia is justified in their actions, as they are trying to protect the Russian speaking populations. Protecting them against those that have come in and torn down the statutes of Lenin etc...

Again this is what I see the “MEDIA” doing.

36
posted on 03/01/2014 2:15:03 PM PST
by Zeneta
(Thoughts in time and out of season.)

Putin thought this one out —all his ducks are in order. He even got permission from the Duma (also set up) How is the Russian Media spinning this? He will snap up what he wants. What can we do? We will not have the ability to move and act swiftly—its like 1914—this could be the dawn of WW III if cooler heads don’t over react.

Unfortunately, the Ukraine isn't overly populated by either Germans or Israelis - no offense to the folks living there. What I'm saying is there is a diverse population living there; many are even Russian (at least in the east). For a David verses Goliath fight, you must have strong bonds between the people to have a hope of winning.

45
posted on 03/01/2014 2:25:13 PM PST
by Errant
(Surround yourself with intelligent and industrious people who help and support each other.)

I wouldn't if I were Putin. I'd make everyone think I was going to take it all, then settle for the eastern half to the great relief of those now running the western world.

That could very well be the outcome. It sounds like half the country wants to align with Russia anyway, so perhaps that would actually make everyone concerned happy. The other half (Western half) can be free to align with the EU (which I'm not sure is real wise either).

"On the initiative of the US, a phone call took place between Vladimir Putin and the President of the US, Barack Obama. Under discussion were the various aspects of the extraordinary situation in Ukraine. In response to the concern expressed by Barack Obama regarding the possible use of Russian armed forces in the Ukraine, Vladimir Putin drew attention attention to the provocative, criminal acts of the ultranationalist elements, in effect encouraged by the present authorities in Kiev. The Russian president stressed the existence of real threats to the lives and well-being of Russian citizens and numerous compatriots located in the Ukraine. Vladimir Putin underscored that should the violence spread further to the eastern regions of the Ukraine and the Crimea, Russia reserves the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population living there."

I’m not fooled. I’m pointing out that at least Putin PRETENDS there is a legislative branch. I guarantee you that if obama decides to act militarily, he will NOT go to congress. And don’t be surprised. This has already taken obamacare off the front pages. But our troops involved in this quagmire will take obamacare off the front pages for a long time.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.